Video recording method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A video recording method and a video recording apparatus which enables recording of can record both moving and still pictures on a recording medium. The moving pictures encoded by a first encoding method are recorded or the recording medium when in recording moving pictures and still pictures encoded by a second encoding method, and the still pictures encoded by the first encoding method are recorded when recording still pictures.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/446,338, filedDec. 20, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,795, the subject matter of whichis incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recordingand still pictures, and an apparatus and a method for reproducingrecorded moving and still pictures, as well as a recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, along with tendency toward large scale in capacity ofrecording medium such as rewritable optical disks, etc. and withimprovement in techniques for compressing moving pictures, thetechniques for digital cameras and recordable players, etc. that havethe function of recording moving pictures on optical disks have beenreviewed. Under the situation, recordings of both moving and stillpictures on optical disks in a common format have coming into reality.

As such a compression method, it would be advantageous to use the MPEG(Moving Picture Expert Group) standard for recording moving picturesfrom the viewpoint of compression efficiency. The MPEG standard is awell-known technique described in, for example, “The Latest Guidebook toMPEG” (ASCII Co., Ltd., Aug. 1, 1994), etc. The detailed description forthe MPEG will thus be omitted here.

As for a compression method for still pictures, the JPEG (JointPhotographic coding Experts Group) standard used for recording digitalstill pictures from general electronic still cameras may be replacedwith another method if the method can record the data equivalent to oneframe of moving pictures recorded by the MPEG as I picture. If therecordable player described above has a means for expanding picturescompressed by, for example, the MPEG compression method, and then bothmoving and still pictures can be reproduced. In this case, it is no needto use such an expanding means as JPEG for reproducing pictures, therebythe cost of the reproducing system can be reduced.

However, the data must be processed fast to encode moving pictures inreal time and it is impossible to increase the number of pixels perframe of moving pictures so much. For example, the maximum number ofpixels per frame is 720 in the horizontal direction and 480 in thevertical direction on the encoding level referred to as the main profilemain level which handles the resolution of the present TV sets, requiredfor the MPEG method. On the other hand, the encoding time for one sheetof still pictures is not limited so strictly, so that the number ofpixels to be handled in accordance with the high resolution of theobject photographing element can be increased. Consequently, most of thepresent electronic still cameras can record still pictures with the useof the JPEG compression method and the number of pixels to be handled bythose cameras is being increased year after year.

In order to enable any reproducing apparatus such as recordable playersand ordinary players to reproduce data on the basis of the MPEG, as wellas record high resolution still pictures, it is only needed to recordboth MPEG I pictures and JPEG file pictures. Such techniques aredisclosed in, for example, the Japanese Patent Unexamined PublicationNo.10-108133. According to the disclosed techniques, pictures is encodedand recorded with a plurality of different methods at a time and bothmoving and still pictures are encoded and recorded simultaneously. Theconventional techniques, however, do not consider encoding of stillpictures read from a fine photographing element with the use of such anencoding method as MPEG for moving pictures. In particular, no care ispaid for the difference in reading pictures from a photographing elementbetween reading fine still pictures and reading moving pictures.

Furthermore, the above conventional techniques do not consider anycorrespondence to recordings of both moving and still pictures, althoughthey can record both encoded still pictures and partial still picturesso as to make it easier for an user to control the apparatus, forexample, for searching pictures when in reproducing.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the number of pixels to be read from a photographing elementwithin a unit time is limited. The number of pixels to be read per frameof moving pictures therefore is also limited. On the other hand, a longtime can be spared to read a large number of pixels from still picturesslowly. Consequently, if an apparatus that employs a fine photographingelement is used to record fine still pictures, a sheet of pictures isread by spending a time required for reading one or more frames—Thereading method thus comes to differ between moving picture and stillpictures.

Under the circumstances, it is the first object of the present inventionto provide an apparatus and a method for recording pictures, which arepreferred to solve the above conventional problems and enable recordableplayers and other ordinary players which reproduce moving pictures toreproduce and record fine still pictures, as well.

It is the second object of the present invention to provide an apparatusand a method for recording pictures, which is more improved incontrolling such reproducing operations as searching even when inrecording both moving and still pictures, as well as a recording mediumin which pictures are recorded as described above.

Furthermore, it is the third object of the present invention to providean apparatus and a method for reproducing both moving and stillpictures, which can reproduce the recording medium on which pictures arerecorded with the use of the recording apparatus and the recordingmethod described above, as well as improved more in controlling suchreproducing operations as searching and composed simply

In order to achieve the first object, the recording method of thepresent invention used for a video recording apparatus that can recordboth moving and still pictures on a recording medium includes steps forrecording moving pictures encoded with the use of the first encodingmethod when in recording moving pictures; and for recording stillpictures encoded with the use of the second encoding method and otherstill pictures encoded by the first encoding method from single framesignals obtained from the still pictures when in recording stillpictures Furthermore, the video recording apparatus of the presentinvention comprises optical focusing means composed of an optical lenssystem; photoelectric converting means for converting pictures focusedby the optical focusing means to electric signals; signal processingmeans for converting electric signals converted by the photoelectricconverting means to video signals; driving means provided with two modes(moving picture photographing mode and still picture photographing mode)so as to drive reading of electric signals from the photoelectricconverting means so that the video signals are converted topredetermined moving picture signals in the moving photographing modeand drive reading of electric signals from the photoelectric convertingmeans so that the video signals are converted to video signals finerthan the moving picture signals in the still picture photographing mode;signal converting means for converting the signal format of fine videosignals in the still picture photographing mode to the same format asthat of single frame moving picture signals in the moving picturephotographing mode; moving picture encoding means for encoding movingpicture signals output from the signal processing means with the use ofthe first encoding method in the moving picture photographing mode andencoding single frame signals output from the signal converting meanswith the use of the first encoding method in the still picturephotographing mode; still picture encoding means for encoding fine videosignals with the use of the second encoding method in the still picturephotographing mode; recording controlling means for controlling arecording medium for recording encoded moving and still pictures andrecording of moving and still pictures on the recording medium; systemcontrolling means for controlling each of the above meansone-dimensionally; and selecting means for selecting one of therecording modes. The recording apparatus can thus record moving imagesencoded by the moving encoding means when in recording moving picturesand record still pictures encoded by the still picture encoding means,as well as other still pictures encoded by the moving encoding meansfrom single frame signals obtained from the still pictures when inrecording still pictures.

The video recording apparatus of the present invention further includesmoving picture storing means for storing single frame signals outputfrom the signal converting means in the still picture photographingmode; and still picture storing means for storing fine video signals sothat the recording apparatus records moving pictures by reading movingpicture signals from the moving picture storing means and encoding themwith the use of the moving picture encoding means when in recordingmoving pictures and records still pictures by reading still picturesfrom the fine still picture storing means and encoding them with the useof the still picture encoding means when in recording still pictures,and also records fine video signals read from the moving picture storingmeans and encoded by the moving picture encoding means The fine videosignals are stored once in the still picture storing means before theyare converted to single frame signals by the signal converting means,then stored in the moving picture storing means.

In order to achieve the second object of the present invention, thepresent invention provides a recording method characterized in that whenin recording moving pictures, moving pictures are recorded together witha still picture obtained by compressing signals of a frame representingthe moving pictures to record and when in recording still pictures,compressed still pictures are also recorded together with non-compressedstill pictures. The recording method also employs screen compressingmeans for compressing the screen of pictures of a frame representing themoving picture signals to record when in recording moving pictures andcompressing the screen of still pictures to record when in recordingstill pictures, so that when in recording of moving pictures, movingpictures encoded by the moving encoding means are recorded together withstill pictures whose screen is compressed by the screen compressingmeans and when in recording of still pictures, still pictures encoded bythe still picture encoding means are recorded together with other stillpictures encoded by the moving encoding means from single frame signalsobtained from the still pictures, and further other still pictures whosescreen is compressed by the screen compressing means.

Furthermore, the present invention provides the recording methodcharacterized in that when in recording of moving pictures, movingpictures are recorded together with a still picture obtained bycompressing the signals of a frame representing the moving pictures torecord and when in recording of still pictures, still pictures obtainedby compressing the single frame signals to be encoded by the firstencoding method is also recorded. The video recording apparatus furtherincludes screen compressing means for compressing the screen of picturesof a frame representing moving picture signals to record when inrecording moving pictures and compressing the screen of single framesignals obtained from the still pictures when in recording stillpictures, so that when in recording moving pictures, the moving picturesencoded by the moving picture encoding means are recorded together withthe still pictures whose screen is compressed by the screen compressingmeans and when in recording still pictures, the still pictures encodedby the still picture encoding means are recorded together with stillpictures encoded by the moving picture encoding means from single framesignals obtained from the still pictures, as well as other stillpictures whose screen is compressed by the screen compressing means.

The present invention also provides a recording method for recording astill picture obtained by compressing signals of a frame representingthe moving pictures to record when in recording moving pictures andrecording either compressed still pictures or still pictures obtained bycompressing single frame signals to be encoded by the first encodingmethod. In this case, the video recording apparatus of the presentinvention further includes screen compressing means for compressing thescreen of pictures of a frame representing the object moving picturesignals when in recording moving pictures and compressing the screen ofeither the still pictures or single frame signals obtained from thestill pictures when in recording still pictures, so that when inrecording moving pictures, moving pictures encoded by the moving pictureencoding means are recorded together with still pictures whose screen iscompressed by the screen compressing means and when in recording stillpictures, still pictures encoded by the still picture encoding means arerecorded together with other still pictures encoded by the movingpicture encoding means from single frame signals obtained from the samestill pictures, and further other still pictures whose screen iscompressed by the screen compressing means.

Furthermore, the present invention further provides a recording mediumon which moving pictures encoded by the first encoding means arerecorded together with still pictures obtained by compressing the screenof a representative one of the moving pictures, other still picturesencoded by the second encoding method, single frame moving picturescreated from the still pictures encoded by the first encoding method,and further other still pictures whose screen is compressed.

In order to achieve the third object of the present invention, thepresent invention provides a reproducing method that can reproduce theabove recording medium, wherein it is possible to reproduce and outputsingle frame moving pictures created from the still pictures encoded bythe first encoding method corresponding to the selected still picture toat least one output destination when a still picture whose screen iscompressed is selected and called. In this case, the reproducing methodallows a still picture corresponding to the called still picture to beoutput in accordance with the picture resolution of the outputdestination. Furthermore, the video reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention further includes picture selecting means for specifying one ofreproduced still pictures whose screen is compressed; reproducingcontrolling means for controlling reproduction of single frame movingpictures created from still pictured encoded by the first encodingmethod corresponding to the selected still picture when the selectedstill picture is a still picture whose screen is compressed; movingpicture decoding means for decoding reproduced single frame movingpictures using the first encoding method.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a reproducing method usedfor a video reproducing apparatus that can reproduce the above recordingmedium, wherein a single frame moving picture created from a stillpicture encoded by the first encoding method corresponding to a selectedstill picture is reproduced and displayed when a still picture whosescreen is compressed is selected and called. In this case, thereproducing apparatus that uses the above reproducing method is furtherprovided with picture selecting means for specifying one of reproducedstill pictures whose screen is compressed; reproducing control means forreproducing single frame moving pictures created from the still picturesencoded by the first encoding means corresponding to the selected stillpicture when the selected still picture is a still picture whose screenis compressed; moving picture decoding means for decoding the reproducedsingle frame moving pictures using the first encoding method; anddisplaying means for displaying decoded single frame moving pictures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a recording apparatus united with acamera in an embodiment of a video recording apparatus of the presentinvention

FIG. 2 is a recording format of a recording medium used for therecording apparatus united with a camera

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a recording apparatus united with acamera in another embodiment of the video recording apparatus of thepresent invention

FIG. 4 is a recording format of a recording medium used for therecording apparatus united with a camera

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram of a video reproducing apparatus in anembodiment of the present invention

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram of the video reproducing apparatus inanother embodiment of the present invention

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereunder, the embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram indicating a video recording apparatusunited with a camera in an embodiment of the present invention In FIG.1, numeral 101 is an optical lens for focusing an object picture and 102is a CCD sensor, which is photoelectric converting means for convertingthe light of focused pictures to electric signals. Numeral 103 is asignal processing unit for converting picture information converted toelectric signals further to video signals and 104 is a driving unit fordriving the CCD sensor. Numeral 105 is a moving picture compressing unitfor compressing video signals in accordance with such an encodingstandard as MPEG used for moving pictures. Numeral 106 is a fine stillpicture compressing unit for compressing video signals in accordancewith such an encoding standard as JPEG used for fine still pictures and107 is a moving picture memory for storing pictures temporarily when themoving picture compressing unit 105 performs a compression processing.Numeral 108 is a still picture memory for storing pictures temporarilywhen the fine still picture compressing unit 106 performs a compressingprocessing. Numeral 109 is a signal converting unit for converting thesignal format of fine still signals to the same signal format as that ofsingle frame moving picture signals. Numeral 110 is a microphone forconverting collected audios to electric audio signals and 111 is anaudio compressing unit for converting audio signals to digital signalsand compressing predetermined digital audios. Numeral 112 is amultiplexing unit for multiplexing compressed moving picture streamsgenerated in the moving picture compressing unit 105 and compressedaudio streams generated in the audio compressing unit 111. Numeral 113is a recording control unit for managing recorded data files of movingand still pictures to record and controlling the recording with the useof a predetermined file system. Numeral 114 is such a recording mediumas an optical disk, etc. Numeral 115 is a system control unit forcontrolling the driving unit 104, the moving picture compressing unit105, the fine still picture compressing unit 106, the moving picturememory 107, the still picture memory 108, and the recording control unit113 one-dimensionally. Numeral 116 is a switch used by the user toselect a recording mode between the moving picture photographing modeand the still picture photographing mode.

If the moving picture photographing mode is selected by the switch 116,the system control unit 115 controls the whole system as follows. Thedriving unit 104 drives the CCD sensor 102 to generate moving picturesignals, so that the CCD sensor 102 converts the pictures focused by theoptical lens 101 to electric signals. Then, the signal processing unit103 converts the electric signals to digital signals, which become videosignals. The video signals are then stored in the moving picture memory107. While video signals in the compression process are transferred fromthe moving picture compressing unit 105 to the moving picture memory107, the video signals are converted sequentially to compressed movingpicture streams and audios collected by the microphone 110 arecompressed in the audio compressing unit 111. After that, moving picturestreams generated by the moving picture compressing unit 105 andcompressed audio streams generated in the audio compressing unit 111 aremultiplexed by the multiplexing unit 112. The multiplexed streams arerecorded on the recording medium 114 via the recording control unit 113in a predetermined recording format to be described later.

If the still picture photographing mode is selected by the switch 116,the system control unit 115 controls the whole system as follows. Thedriving unit 104 drives the CCD sensor 102 to generate still picturesignals, so that the CCD sensor 102 converts the pictures focused by theoptical lens 101 to electric signals, then the signal processing unit103 converts the electric signals to digital signals, which become videosignals. If the CCD sensor 102 is driven to generate still picturesignals, fine video signals are output so that video signals for a sheetof still pictures are output in a time exceeding the one-frame period ofmoving picture signals. The still picture memory 108 stores videosignals equivalent to one sheet of still pictures. After that, the finestill picture compressing unit 106 compresses still pictures for onesheet stored in the still picture memory 108 and the compressed stillpictures are recorded on the recording medium 114 via the recordingcontrol unit 113 as still picture file data. Then, the signal convertingunit 109 converts the signal format of a sheet of pictures stored in thestill picture memory 108 to the same signal format as that of singleframe moving picture signals, then the converted signals are stored inthe moving picture memory 107. Then, the moving picture compressing unit105 compresses signals to MPEG I pictures, etc, then the I pictures arestored on the recording medium 114 via the recording control unit 113 asmoving picture streams.

According to this embodiment, therefore, when in photographing stillpictures, still pictures in the format of the compressed moving picturestreams converted from fine still pictures are recorded together with afine still picture file. Those pictures can thus be reproduced in any ofrecordable players and other ordinary players for reproducing movingpictures. The same pictures can also be fetched as fine still picturesso as to be handled on personal computers.

Although signals read from the still picture memory 108 are converted inthe signal converting unit 109 in this embodiment, fine video signalsoutput from the signal processing unit 103 may also be converteddirectly in the signal converting unit 109. In this case, fine stillpicture signals and single frame moving picture image signals are storedin the still picture memory 108 and in the moving picture memory 107simultaneously.

Furthermore, the moving picture memory 107 and the still picture memory108 in this embodiment may be composed as different address spaces inone memory.

The signal converting unit 109 may also be composed so that the CPUobtains still pictures directly from the still picture memory 108 usinga program and converts the still pictures to single frame movingpictures through an arithmetic operation, thereby writing the picturesin the moving picture memory 107 directly.

The moving picture compressing unit 105 and the fine still picturecompressing unit 106 may also be composed respectively so that bothunits 105 and 106 can share a processing circuit for such processings asdiscrete cosine conversion and can switch the mode between movingpicture image compression and fine still picture compression. In thiscase, it is only needed to change the mode between when recording a finestill picture file and when recording still pictures in the format ofcompressed moving picture streams converted from fine still pictures.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the recording file format for moving andstill pictures in a video recording apparatus in this embodiment. InFIG. 2, numeral 201 is a root directory, which is the top hierarchicallayer of the logic data file management structure on an optical disk,which is a recording medium. Numeral 202 is a data directory named asDVD_RTAV for recording data files of moving pictures (includingmultiplexed audios), still pictures, and audio data. The VR_MOVIE.VRO isa data file for storing moving pictures and the VR_STILL.VRO is a datafile for recording still pictures, which are MPEG I pictures andcompressed audio data. The VR_AUDIO.VRO is a data file for recordingaudio data when in after-recording of audios. The VR_MANGR.IFO is amanagement file indicating how data files are recorded in each ofVP_MOVTE.VRO, VR_STILL.VRO, and VR_AUDIO.VRO files. Numeral 203 is adirectory for recording other data files than the compressed movingpictures file. Although such a directory name as JPEG is picked up as anexample in this embodiment, this directory name is not restricted at alland JPEG files may be recorded directly in the route directory withoutcreating any JPEG file under the directory named as JPEG.

In the moving picture photographing mode, moving pictures are recordedin the VR_MOVIE.VRO file under the DVD_RTAV directory 202 shown in FIG.2, as well as the management information in the management fileVR_MANGR.IFO is rewritten. In the still picture photographing mode,still pictures, which are MPEG I pictures, are recorded in theVR_STILL.VRO file and the management information in the management fileVR_MANGR.IFO is rewritten. In addition, a JPEG-compressed picture datafile is recorded as 00000001.jpg under the JPEG directory 203, and eachtime still pictures are photographed, MPEG I picture still pictures areadded in the VR_STILL.VRO file, as well as still pictures are recordedwith a new file name sequentially as a serial number like 00000002.jpgeach time still pictures are photographed

Although file names are described as serial numbers like 00000001.jpg,00000002.jpg, and the file extension is described as jpg in thisembodiment, both file name and file extension are not restricted at all.

According to this embodiment, therefore, still pictures, which are MPEGI pictures, converted from fine still pictures, as well as a JPEG finestill pictures file are recorded when still pictures are photographed,so it is possible to reproduce those still pictures even in any ofrecordable players and other ordinary players which reproduce movingpictures In addition, the same pictures can be taken out as JPEG finestill pictures and handled on personal computers, etc.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram indicating an embodiment of a recordingapparatus united with a camera used as a video recording apparatus ofthe present invention. In this embodiment, a compressed screen displayedfor searching pictures, that is, thumb nail pictures, are also recordedwhen in reproducing pictures. In FIG. 2, numeral 101 is an optical lensfor focusing pictures and 102 is a CCD sensor, which is photoelectricconverting means for converting the light on focused pictures toelectric signals. Numeral 103 is a signal processing unit for convertingpicture information converted to electric signals further to videosignals and 104 is a driving unit for driving the CCD sensor 102.Numeral 105 is a moving picture compressing unit for compressing videosignals in accordance with such a moving picture encoding standard asMPEG. Numeral 106 is a fine still picture compressing unit forcompressing video signals in accordance with such a fine still pictureencoding standard as JPEG and 107 is a moving picture memory for storingpictures temporarily when the moving picture compressing unit 105performs a compression processing and 108 is a still picture memory forstoring pictures temporarily when the fine still picture compressingunit 106 performs a compression processing. Numeral 109 is a signalconverting unit for converting the signal format of fine still picturesignals to the same signal format as that of single frame moving picturesignals and 110 is a microphone for converting collected audios toelectric audio signals. Numeral 111 is an audio compressing unit forconverting audio signals to digital signals and compressingpredetermined digital audios. Numeral 112 is a multiplexing unit formultiplexing compressed moving picture streams generated in the movingpicture compressing unit 105 and compressed audio streams generated inthe audio compressing unit 111. Numeral 113 is a recording control unitfor managing recording of moving and still pictures in data files andcontrolling the recording with the use of a predetermined file system.Numeral 114 is such a recording medium as an optical disk, etc. Numeral115 is a system control unit for controlling the driving unit 104, themoving picture compressing unit 105, the fine still picture compressingunit 106, the moving picture memory 107, the still picture memory 108,and the recording control unit 113 one-dimensionally. Numeral 116 is aswitch used by the user to select the recording mode between movingpicture photographing and still picture photographing. Theconfigurations and operations of those items are the same as those inthe first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Numeral 117 is a screencompressing unit for creating thumb nail pictures by compressing thescreen of moving pictures or fine still pictures.

While the moving picture photographing mode is selected by the switch116, the compressed moving streams generated in the moving picturecompressing unit 105 and the compressed audio streams generated in theaudio compressing unit 111 are multiplexed and recorded on the recordingmedium 114 just like in the first embodiment. At the same time, picturesof a frame representing object moving pictures, for example, the startframe picture, is read from the moving picture memory 107, then thescreen is compressed by the screen compressing unit 117 and the picturesare stored in the still picture memory 108. In this case, it is premisedthat the size of the compressed screen is a thumb nail size, forexample, 160 pixels in the horizontal direction and 120 pixels in thevertical direction. When recording of moving pictures is ended, the finestill picture compressing unit 106 compresses the thumb nail picturesstored in the still picture memory 108 and records the pictures as thumbnail file data on the recording medium 114. The thumb nail file datadiffers from any of moving picture stream data and still picture filedata.

If the still picture photographing mode is selected by the switch 116,at first, still picture file data generated in the fine still picturecompressing unit 106 are recorded on the recording medium 114 togetherwith still pictures in the compressed moving picture stream formatgenerated in the moving picture compressing unit 105 just like in thefirst embodiment. Then, fine still pictures are read from the stillpicture memory 108. After that, the screen is compressed by the screencompressing unit 117 and the read fine still pictures are stored againin the still picture memory 108. At this time, the size of thecompressed screen is a thumb nail size, for example, 160 pixels in thehorizontal direction and 120 pixels in the vertical direction. Afterthat, the thumb nail pictures stored in the still picture memory 108 arecompressed in the fine still picture compressing unit 106, then recordedon the recording medium 114 as thumb nail file data, which is differentfrom any of moving picture stream data and still picture file data.

According to this embodiment, because the same compressed pictures asrepresentative moving pictures or still pictures are recorded when inphotographing of moving pictures and still pictures, it is possible todisplay such screens as the searching screen including this compressedpictures quickly when in reproducing so as to make it easier for theuser to control the apparatus.

In the above embodiment, if the still picture photographing mode isselected by the switch 116, then still pictures whose signal format isconverted to the same one as that of single frame moving picture signalsare read from the moving picture memory 107 and stored in the stillpicture memory 108 after the screen is compressed by the screencompressing unit 117. After that, it is possible to compress stillpictures in the fine still picture compressing unit 106 and record themon the recording medium 114 as thumb nail file data.

It is also possible to read either of the fine still pictures stored inthe still picture memory 108 or the still pictures whose signal formatis changed to the same one as that of the single frame moving pictureimage signals stored in the moving picture memory 107, then store themin the still picture memory 108 after the screen is compressed by thescreen compressing unit 117, and then compress the still pictures in thefine still picture compressing unit 106 and record them on the recordingmedium 114 as thumb nail file data.

According to this embodiment, because the same compressed pictures asrepresentative moving pictures or still pictures are recorded when inphotographing of moving pictures and still pictures, it is possible todisplay such screens as the searching screen including this compressedpictures quickly when in reproducing so as to make it easier for theuser to control the apparatus.

Because the signal converting unit 109 and the screen compressing unit117 are similar in processing contents, they may be united into aprocessing unit.

The screen compressing unit 117 may be composed so that the CPU obtainsmoving or still pictures from the moving picture memory 107 or the stillpicture memory 108 using a program and compresses the pictures throughan arithmetic operation, then writes the compressed pictures in thestill picture memory 108 directly.

Although thumb nail pictures are encoded by the fine still picturecompressing unit 106 in this embodiment, the pictures may be encodedwith another different encoding method.

Thumb nail pictures may also be encoded by the CPU through an arithmeticoperation. In this case, the CPU obtains thumb nail pictures directlyfrom the still picture memory 108 using a program, then writes theencoded pictures in a buffer memory disposed in the not-illustrated rearstage (the multiplexing unit 112 or the recording control unit 113).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the file format for recording movingpictures, still pictures, and thumb nail pictures in the video recordingapparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, numeral 201 is a rootdirectory, which is the top hierarchical layer of the logic data filemanagement structure on an optical disk, which is a recording medium.Numeral 202 is a directory named as DVD RTAV used to record data filesfor moving pictures (including multiplexed audios), still pictures, andaudio data. Numeral 203 is a directory for recording JPEG data files forstoring compressed still pictures. The contents in the files are thesame as those in each file in the file format shown in FIG. 2. Numeral204 is a directory for recording data files containing compressed thumbnail pictures respectively. Although THUMBNAIL is used as a directoryname as an example in this embodiment, this directory name is notrestricted at all; a data file containing compressed thumb nail picturesmay be placed directly in the root directory. Furthermore, althoughmoving picture thumb nail and still picture thumb nail are not separatedin different directories in this embodiment, they may be separated indifferent directories.

In the moving picture photographing mode, moving pictures are recordedin the VR_MOVIE.VRO file under the DVD_RTAV directory 202 shown in FIG.4, as well as the management information in the management fileVR_MANGR.IFO is rewritten Furthermore, a thumb nail picture filecontaining JPEG compressed data is recorded with a file name oft0000001.jpg under the THUMBNAIL directory 204 In the still picturephotographing mode, MPEG I-picture still pictures are recorded in theVR_STILL.VRO file and the management information in the management fileVR_MANGR.IFO is rewritten, as well as a fine still picture data filecontaining JPEG-compressed data is recorded with a file name of00000001.jpg under the JPEG directory 203, and furthermore, the thumbnail picture data file containing JPEG-compressed data is recorded witha file name of t0000002.jpg under the THUMBNAIL directory 204. Afterthat, each time moving or still pictures are photographed, the picturesare recorded with a file name sequentially as a serial number liket0000003.jpg under the THUMBNAIL directory 204.

Although both fine still pictures and thumb nail pictures are recordedin a JPEG data file respectively in this embodiment, both fine still andthumb nail pictures may be recorded in any file format and in anydifferent file formats.

Although serial numbers are used as file names, for example, liket00000001.jpg, t0000002.jpg, and jpg is used as the file extension inthis embodiment, the file names and the file extension are not limitedonly to them.

According to this embodiment, because the same compressed pictures asrepresentative moving pictures or still pictures are recorded when inphotographing of moving pictures and still pictures, it is possible todisplay such screens as the searching screen including this compressedpictures quickly when in reproducing so as to make it easier for theuser to control the apparatus.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram indicating an embodiment of the videoreproducing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment,pictures are reproduced from a recording medium on which the picturesare recorded by the video recording apparatus of the present invention.In FIG. 5, numeral 114 is such a recording medium as an optical disk,and the like. Numeral 118 is a reproducing control unit for managingdata files of both moving and still pictures to be reproduced andcontrolling the reproduction of those pictures with the use of apredetermined file system. Numeral 119 is a separating unit forseparating compressed moving streams from compressed audio streams andtransmitting separated streams to the moving picture expanding unit 120and the audio expanding unit 126 respectively. Numeral 120 is a movingpicture expanding unit for expanding compressed moving picture streamsor a compressed still picture data file to restore original videosignals in accordance with such a moving picture encoding standard asMPEG. Numeral 121 is a moving picture memory for storing picturestemporarily when the moving picture expanding unit 120 expands pictures.Numeral 122 is a thumb nail picture expanding unit for expandingcompressed thumb nail pictures to restore original thumb nail picturesin accordance with such an encoding standard as JPEG. Numeral 123 is athumb nail picture memory for storing pictures temporarily when thethumb nail picture expanding unit 122 expands pictures. Numeral 124 is avideo processing unit for converting restored moving, still, or thumbnail pictures to video signals. Numeral 125 is a video output terminalconnected to an external display apparatus or recording apparatus fordisplaying moving pictures and used to output moving, still, or thumbnail pictures in a moving picture signal format. Numeral 126 is an audioexpanding unit for expanding audio streams compressed with apredetermined digital audio compression method to restore original audiosignals. Numeral 127 is an audio output terminal for outputting restoredaudio signals and 128 is a system control unit for controlling thereproducing control unit 118, the moving picture expanding unit 120, themoving picture memory 121, the thumb nail picture expanding unit 122,and the thumb nail picture memory 123 one-dimensionally. Numeral 129 issuch input buttons as a cursor button and a decision button used by theuser to select an object picture from thumb nail pictures displayed onthe screen.

The recording medium 114 contains moving, still, and thumb nail picturesrecorded in the file format shown in FIG. 4. If pictures are reproducedfrom the recording medium 114, the system control unit 128 controls thewhole system as follows to display a list of thumb nail pictures. Thereproducing control unit 118 reproduces the thumb nail data filesrecorded on the recording medium 114 sequentially, then the thumb nailpicture expanding unit 122 expands each of those thumb nail data filesand lists up those files in the thumb nail picture memory 123. The listof the thumb nail data files created in the thumb nail picture memory123 is then output from the video output terminal 125 via the videoprocessing unit 124 and displayed on an external display apparatusconnected to the terminal. Then, the user selects an object picture fromthe list of the thumb nail pictures with the use of the input buttons129.

If a moving image is selected, the system control unit 128 controls thewhole system as follows. The reproducing control unit 118 reproduces amoving picture data file corresponding to the selected thumb nail, thenthe separating unit 119 separates compressed moving picture streams fromcompressed audio streams. The compressed moving picture streams areconverted to video signals sequentially, while the moving pictureexpanding unit 120 transfers the video signals to the moving picturememory 121. The video signals are then read from the moving picturememory 121 and output from the video output terminal 125 via the videoprocessing unit 124. The compressed audio streams are expanded in theaudio expanding unit 126 and output from the audio output terminal 127.

If a still picture is selected, the system control unit 128 controls thewhole system as follows. The reproducing control unit 118 reproduces adata file in such a compressed moving picture stream format as the MPEGI-picture one. The data file is selected from two types of still picturedata files corresponding to the selected thumb nail. Then, the movingpicture expanding unit 120 restores the reproduced data file to stillpictures in the same signal format as that of the single-frame movingpicture signals and stores the picture in the moving picture memory 121.The still pictures are then read repetitively from the moving picturememory 121 and output from the video output terminal 125 via the videoprocessing unit 124.

According to this embodiment, therefore, when a still picture thumb nailis selected to display a still picture, a data file in the compressedmoving picture stream format is selected from two types of still picturedata files corresponding to the thumb nail so as to be reproduced andoutput from the video output terminal in the moving picture format. Itis thus possible to omit the signal converting circuit for convertingthe format of the fine still picture signals to the same signal formatas that of the single frame moving picture signals, thereby theapparatus circuit is simplified. Furthermore, if no fine still picturesignal is output as described in this embodiment, the fine still pictureexpanding circuit can also be omitted.

If the output destination is an apparatus for outputting fine stillpicture signals, a fine still picture data file selected from two typesof still picture data files corresponding to the selected thumb nail maybe output, of course. The output file may be selected such way accordingto the resolution of the destination apparatus.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram indicating an embodiment of the videoreproducing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, thevideo reproducing apparatus can incorporate such a display medium as aliquid crystal panel in itself so as to display reproduced moving,still, and thumb nail pictures. In FIG. 6, numeral 114 is such arecording medium as an optical disk, etc. Numeral 118 is a reproducingcontrol unit for managing data files of both moving and still picturesto be reproduced and controlling the reproduction of those pictures withthe use of a predetermined file system. Numeral 119 is a separating unitfor separating compressed moving streams from compressed audio streamsand transmitting separated streams to the moving picture expanding unit120 and the audio expanding unit 126 respectively. Numeral 120 is amoving picture expanding unit for expanding compressed moving picturestreams or a compressed still picture data file to restore originalvideo signals in accordance with such a moving picture encoding standardas MPEG. Numeral 121 is a moving picture memory for storing picturestemporarily when the moving picture expanding unit 120 expands picturesNumeral 122 is a thumb nail picture expanding unit for expandingcompressed thumb nail pictures to restore original thumb nail picturesin accordance with such an encoding standard as JPEG. Numeral 123 is athumb nail picture memory for storing pictures temporarily when thethumb nail picture expanding unit 122 expands pictures. Numeral 124 is avideo processing unit for converting restored moving, still, or thumbnail pictures to video signals. Numeral 126 is an audio expanding unitfor expanding audio streams compressed with a predetermined digitalaudio compression method to restore original audio signals. Numeral 128is a system control unit for controlling the reproducing control unit118, the moving picture expanding unit 120, the moving picture memory121, the thumb nail picture expanding unit 122, and the thumbnailpicture memory 123 one-dimensionally Numeral 129 is such input buttonsas a cursor button and a decision button used by the user to select anobject picture from thumb nail pictures displayed on the screen. Theconfigurations and operations of those items are the same as those inthe third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 Numeral 130 is such a displaymedium as a liquid crystal panel for displaying reproduced moving,still, and thumb nail pictures and 131 is a speaker for soundingreproduced audios.

If pictures are reproduced from the recording medium 114 just like inthe third embodiment, a list of thumb nail pictures is created anddisplayed on the display medium 130. Then, the user selects an objectpicture from the list of the thumb nail pictures with the use of theinput buttons 131.

If a moving image is selected, a moving picture data file correspondingto the selected thumb nail is reproduced and displayed on the displaymedium 130 just like in the third embodiment. The audios are soundedfrom the speaker 131.

If a still picture is selected, a data file in such a compressed movingpicture stream format as the MPEG I-picture one is selected from twotypes of still picture data files corresponding to the selected thumbnail just like in the third embodiment. Then, the reproduced data fileis displayed on the display medium 130.

According to this embodiment, therefore, when a still picture thumb nailis selected to display a still picture, a data file in the compressedmoving picture stream format is selected from two types of still picturedata files corresponding to the thumb nail so as to be reproduced andoutput from the video output terminal set in the moving picture format.It is thus possible to omit the signal converting circuit for convertingthe format of the fine still picture signals to the same signal formatas that of the single frame moving picture signals, thereby theapparatus circuit is simplified. Furthermore, if no fine still picturesignal is output as described in this embodiment, the fine still pictureexpanding circuit can also be omitted.

If the output destination is an apparatus for outputting fine stillpicture signals, a fine still picture data file selected from two typesof still picture data files corresponding to the selected thumb nail maybe output, of course. The output file may be selected such way accordingto the resolution of the destination apparatus.

As described above, according to the present invention, therefore, fineframe moving pictures converted from fine still pictures, as well as afine still picture data file can be recorded when in photographing stillpictures. For example, pictures can be reproduced even by any ofrecordable players for reproducing such moving pictures as MPEG ones andother ordinary players. Furthermore, photographed still pictures can behandled as fine still pictures even on personal computers.

According to this embodiment, because the same compressed pictures asrepresentative moving pictures or still pictures are recorded when inphotographing of moving pictures and still pictures, it is possible todisplay such screens as the searching screen including this compressedpictures quickly when in reproducing so as to make it easier for theuser to control the apparatus.

Furthermore, if a still picture thumb nail is selected to display astill picture when in reproducing, a data file in the compressed movingpicture stream format is selected from two types of still picture datafiles so as to be reproduced and output from the video output terminalset in the moving picture format. It is thus possible to omit the signalconverting circuit for converting the format of the fine still picturesignals to the same signal format as that of the single frame movingpicture signals, thereby the apparatus circuit is simplified.Furthermore, if no fine still picture signal is output as described inthis embodiment, the fine still picture expanding circuit can also beomitted.

1. A video recording method used for a video recording apparatus whichenables recording of both moving and still pictures on a recordingmedium, comprising: recording moving pictures encoded by a firstencoding method, recording first still pictures encoded by a secondencoding method which is different from the first encoding method, andrecording second still pictures encoded by the first encoding method bywhich moving pictures are encoded, whereby a video reproducing apparatusenabled for decoding moving pictures encoded by the first encodingmethod, but which is not enabled for decoding still pictures encoded bythe second encoding method, can decode the second still picturesrecorded on the recording medium.
 2. A video recording method inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the first encoding method uses the MPEGstandard and the second encoding method uses the JPEG standard.
 3. Avideo recording method in accordance with claim 1, wherein thirdpictures corresponding to the moving pictures or the second stillpictures, which have a smaller number of pixels than the moving picturesand the second still pictures are also recorded.
 4. A video recordingapparatus which enables recording of both moving and still pictures on arecording medium, comprising: first recording means for recording movingpictures by a first encoding method; and second recording means forrecording first still pictures by a second encoding method which isdifferent from the first encoding method, and for recording second stillpictures by the first encoding method by which moving pictures areencoded, whereby a video reproducing apparatus enabled for decodingmoving pictures encoded by the first encoding method, but which is notenabled for decoding still pictures encoded by the second encodingmethod, can decode the second still pictures recorded on the recordingmedium.
 5. A video recording apparatus in accordance with claim 4,wherein the first encoding method is the MPEG standard and the secondencoding method is the JPEG standard.
 6. A video recording apparatus inaccordance with claim 4, wherein the apparatus includes third recordingmeans for recording third pictures corresponding to the moving picturesor the second still pictures which have a smaller number of pixels thanthe moving pictures and the second still pictures.
 7. A video recordingmethod used for a video recording apparatus which enables recording ofboth moving and still pictures on a recording medium, comprising:recording moving pictures encoded by a first encoding method, recordingfirst still pictures encoded by a second encoding method which isdifferent from the first encoding method, and recording second stillpictures encoded by the first encoding method by which moving picturesare encoded after recording the first still pictures, whereby a videoreproducing apparatus enabled for decoding moving pictures encoded bythe first encoding method, but which is not enabled for decoding stillpictures encoded by the second encoding method, can decode the secondstill pictures recorded on the recording medium.
 8. A video recordingmethod in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first encoding methoduses the MPEG standard and the second encoding method uses the JPEGstandard.
 9. A video recording method in accordance with claim 7,wherein third pictures corresponding to the moving pictures or thesecond still pictures, which have a smaller number of pixels than themoving pictures and said the second still pictures are also recorded.10. A video recording method in accordance with claim 1, the first stillpictures is encoded from the second still pictures.
 11. A videorecording method in accordance with claim 1, the first still picturesand the second still pictures are originated from same still pictures.12. A video recording method in accordance with claim 1, the first stillpictures and the second still pictures are recorded when still picturerecording mode is selected.
 13. A video recording method in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the moving pictures and the second still picturesare recoded with file name extension “VRO”.
 14. A video recordingapparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first still picturesis encoded from the second still pictures.
 15. A video recordingapparatus in accordance with claim 4, comprising: a camera means forpicking up a still picture from an optical image, wherein one of thefirst still pictures and one of the second still pictures are originatedfrom same still picture picked up by the camera means.
 16. A videorecording apparatus in accordance with claim 4, comprising: a switch toselect a moving pictures recording mode and still pictures recordingmode, wherein the first recording means records moving pictures when themoving pictures recording mode is selected, and the second recordingmeans records the first and second pictures when still picture recordingmode is selected.
 17. A video recording method in accordance with claim7, wherein the first still pictures is encoded from the second stillpictures.
 18. A video recording method in accordance with claim 7,wherein the first still pictures and the second still pictures areoriginated from same still pictures.
 19. A video recording method inaccordance with claim 7, wherein the first still pictures and the secondstill pictures are recorded when a still picture recording mode isselected.
 20. A video recording method used for a video recordingapparatus which enables recording of both moving and still pictures on arecording medium, comprising: recording moving pictures encoded by afirst encoding method on the recording medium, recording first stillpictures encoded by a second encoding method which is different from thefirst encoding method on the recording medium, and recording secondstill pictures encoded by the first encoding method by which movingpictures are encoded on the recording medium, whereby both the first andsecond still pictures encoded by different encoding method are recordedon the recording medium.
 21. A video recording method in accordance withclaim 20, wherein the first encoding method uses the MPEG standard andthe second encoding method uses the JPEG standard.
 22. A video recordingmethod in accordance with claim 20, wherein third pictures correspondingto the moving pictures or the second still pictures, which have asmaller number of pixels than the moving pictures and the second stillpictures are also recorded.
 23. A video recording method in accordancewith claim 20, the first still pictures is encoded from the second stillpictures.
 24. A video recording method in accordance with claim 20, thefirst still pictures and the second still pictures are originated fromsame still pictures.
 25. A video recording method in accordance withclaim 20, the first still pictures and the second still pictures arerecorded when still picture recording mode is selected.
 26. A videorecording method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the movingpictures and the second still pictures are recoded with file nameextension “VRO”.
 27. A video recording apparatus which enables recordingof both moving and still pictures on a recording medium, comprising:first recording means for recording moving pictures by a first encodingmethod on the recording medium; and second recording means for recordingfirst still pictures by a second encoding method on the recording mediumwhich is different from the first encoding method, and for recordingsecond still pictures by the first encoding method by which movingpictures are encoded on the recording medium, whereby both the first andsecond still pictures encoded by different encoding method are recordedon the recording medium.
 28. A video recording apparatus in accordancewith claim 27, wherein the first encoding method is the MPEG standardand the second encoding method is the JPEG standard.
 29. A videorecording apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein the apparatusincludes third recording means for recording third picturescorresponding to the moving pictures or the second still pictures whichhave a smaller number of pixels than the moving pictures and the secondstill pictures.
 30. A video recording apparatus in accordance with claim27, wherein the first still pictures is encoded from the second stillpictures.
 31. A video recording apparatus in accordance with claim 27,comprising: a camera means for picking up a still picture from anoptical image, wherein one of the first still pictures and one of thesecond still pictures are originated from same still picture picked upby the camera means.
 32. A video recording apparatus in accordance withclaim 27, comprising: a switch to select a moving pictures recordingmode and still pictures recording mode, wherein the first recordingmeans records moving pictures when the moving pictures recording mode isselected, and the second recording means records the first and secondpictures when still picture recording mode is selected.
 33. A videorecording method used for a video recording apparatus which enablesrecording of both moving and still pictures on a recording medium,comprising: recording moving pictures encoded by a first encoding methodon the recording medium, recording first still pictures encoded by asecond encoding method which is different from the first encoding methodon the recording medium, and recording second still pictures encoded bythe first encoding method by which moving pictures are encoded afterrecording the first still pictures on the recording medium, whereby boththe first and second still pictures encoded by different encoding methodare recorded on the recording medium.
 34. A video recording method inaccordance with claim 33, wherein the first encoding method uses theMPEG standard and the second encoding method uses the JPEG standard. 35.A video recording method in accordance with claim 33, wherein thirdpictures corresponding to the moving pictures or the second stillpictures, which have a smaller number of pixels than the moving picturesand said the second still pictures are also recorded.
 36. A videorecording method in accordance with claim 33, wherein the first stillpictures is encoded from the second still pictures.
 37. A videorecording method in accordance with claim 33, wherein the first stillpictures and the second still pictures are originated from same stillpictures.
 38. A video recording method in accordance with claim 33,wherein the first still pictures and the second still pictures arerecorded when a still picture recording mode is selected.
 39. A cameracomprising: an image pick up module which picks up an image and sends animage signal; an audio pick up module which picks up audio and sends anaudio signal; a signal processing module which creates image data byprocessing the image signal sent by the image pick up module; a firstcodec which encodes and decodes image data by a first encoding method; asecond codec which encodes and decodes image data by a second encodingmethod; a converting module which converts from image data encoded bythe second codec into image data encoded by the first codec; an audiocodec which creates audio data from the audio signal, and encodes anddecodes audio data; a recording module which records image data encodedby the first codec, image data encoded by the second codec, and audiodata encoded by the audio codec; and a control module which controls sothat, regarding moving image data, moving image data encoded by thefirst codec and audio data encoded by the audio codec are recorded bythe recording module, and which controls so that, regarding still imagedata, still image data encoded by the second codec and still image dataencoded by the first codec which is converted by the converting moduleare recorded by the recording module.
 40. A camera in accordance withclaim 39, wherein the first encoding method uses the MPEG standard andthe second encoding method uses the JPEG standard.
 41. A video recordingmethod in accordance with claim 4, the first still pictures and thesecond still pictures are recorded when still picture recording mode isselected.